Flashed mounting system

ABSTRACT

A flashed mounting system, configured to create a watertight and electrically bonded connection with a surface. The flashed mounting system includes a flashing with a raised flashing portion that has a raised flashing portion opening. A compression block that further includes a compression block central opening that is linearly aligned with the raised flashing portion opening. A bracket that further includes a base that has a base opening that is linearly aligned with the raised flashing portion opening and the compression block central opening. A fastener is inserted through the base opening, the raised flashing portion opening and the compression block central opening into a surface. Crushing the compression block against the raised flashing portion creates a watertight seal and electrical bond between the lag screw and the bracket.

BACKGROUND

The embodiments herein relate generally to attach an object onto a structure.

Prior to embodiments of the disclosed invention flashed mounting systems leaked and were difficult to install. Some endeavors in this field include: U.S. Pat. No. 9,080,792 issued to Patton; U.S. Pat. No. 8,782,983 issued to Stearns; U.S. Pat. No. 8,756,881 issued to West; U.S. Pat. No. 8,733,718 issued to Corsi; U.S. Pat. No. 8,683,751 also issued to Stearns; U.S. Patent Application Pre Grant Publication 2016/0087576 filed by Johansen; U.S. Patent Application Pre Grant Publication 2013/0167455 filed by Jenkins; U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,448,405 and 8,752,338 issued to Schaffer; U.S. Pat. No. 8,122,648 issued to Liu; the Flashguard, a copy of which is in the file wrapper; which is described at https://www.hbsolar.ca/shingle and the Series 100 roof mount system which is located in the file wrapper as well.

This application deals with putting a flashing onto a surface such that water does not penetrate the surface. The most common way of accomplishing this is by putting a flexible washer or gasket between the bolt and the bolt aperture. For instance, both Schaffer patents use a threaded hole covered with a flexible washer through which a screw fits. Stearns '983 and Stearns '751 both teach a roof mount assembly having a plate screwed into a membrane while a membrane patch covers the plate. West is similar, but uses a membrane that is compressed with a washer next to the bolt to make a seal. Corsi utilizes a plate with apertures for mounting screws through a gasket to make a watertight seal. Jenkins likewise uses a hole and a washer for a tight fit. Patton teaches a solar panel mount system having flashing that may be pinched into the solar panel mount base on the roof mount such as at a location and may be inserted under the cut shingle and the shingle and aligned to the drilled hole. A lag bolt can hold the roof mount onto the roof.

Liu, Flashguard, and the Series 100 roof mount system all use a metal on metal contact which deviates from the others, but they lack a theory of electrical grounding.

Johansen does not appear to be interested in a water tight seal in the first instance. The base is perforated with a plurality of screw holes at the bottom of a lip. Seemingly water would pass through those holes. Embodiments of the disclosed invention solve this problem.

SUMMARY

A flashed mounting system, configured to create a watertight connection with a surface. The flashed mounting system includes a flashing with a raised flashing portion that has a raised flashing portion opening. A compression block that further includes a compression block central opening that is linearly aligned with the raised flashing portion opening. A bracket that further includes a base that has a base opening that is linearly aligned with the raised flashing portion opening and the compression block central opening. A fastener is inserted through the base opening, the raised flashing portion opening and the compression block central opening into a surface. Crushing the compression block against the raised flashing portion creates a watertight seal between the lag screw and the bracket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention is made below with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals represent corresponding parts of the figures.

FIG. 1 shows an assembly view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1A shows an assembly section view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B shows a section view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1C shows a section view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows an assembly view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A shows an assembly section view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A shows an assembly view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3C shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3D shows a section view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows an assembly view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A shows a section view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B shows a section view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5C shows a section view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6A shows a section view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6B shows a section view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6C shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6D shows an assembly section view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6E shows a section view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7A shows a section view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7B shows an assembly section view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8A shows a section view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8B shows an assembly section view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9A shows a section view of one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9B shows an assembly section view of one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

By way of example, and referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 1A, one embodiment of a flashed mounting system 10 further comprises a flashing 12 with a flashing portion 14. The flashing portion 14 comprises a portion opening 16. A compression block 18 further comprises a raised lip 20 with a central opening. A mounting bracket 22 further comprises a mounted base 24 that has a mount base opening 26 with an indented lip bottom side of the opening. A vertical face of the mounting bracket 30 comprises a slot 32. A lag screw 34 can be inserted through the mounting bracket base opening 26, the flashing portion opening 16 and the compression block central opening 20 into a surface 36.

Turning to FIG. 2 and FIG. 2A, one embodiment of a flashed mounting system 110 further comprises a flashing 112 with a raised flashing portion 114. The raised flashing portion 114 further comprises a raised flashing portion opening 116. A compression block 118 further comprises a compression block raised lip 120. A foot 122 further comprises a foot base 124 that has a foot base opening 126 and a foot base indented lip or cavity 128. The foot base 124 is connected to a leg 130. The leg 130 comprises a slot 132. A tapered bolt 134 can be inserted through the foot base opening 126, the raised flashing portion opening 116 and into a bottom 136 of the compression block central raised lip 120. In some embodiments the compression block raised lip 120 can be an opening through which the seal bolt 134 passes into a surface 136.

As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D one embodiment of a flashed mounting system 210 further comprises a flashing 212 with a raised flashing portion 214. The raised flashing portion 214 further comprises a raised flashing portion opening 216. A composition base plate 218 further comprises a composition base plate central opening 220. A slider bracket 222 further comprises a foot base 224 that has a foot base opening with a central cavity or indented lip 226. The foot base 124 is connected to a leg 230. The leg 230 comprises a slot 232. A tapered bolt 234 can be inserted through the foot base opening 226, the raised flashing portion opening 216 and through the composition base plate central opening 220. In some embodiments the composition base plate 218 can be attached to a surface 236 with a plurality of screws 238.

As shown in FIG. 4, one embodiment of a flashed mounting system 310 further comprises a flashing 312 with a raised flashing portion 314. The raised flashing portion 314 further comprises a raised flashing portion opening 316. A composition base plate 318 further comprises a composition base plate central opening with a raised lip 320. A foot bracket 322 further comprises a foot base 324 that has a foot base opening with a cavity or an indented lip 326. The foot base 324 is connected to a leg 330. The leg 330 comprises a slot 332. A tapered) bolt 334 can be inserted through the foot base opening 326, the raised flashing portion opening 316 and through the composition base plate central opening 320. In some embodiments the composition base plate 318 can be attached to a surface 336 with a plurality of screws 338.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, a tapered bolt 134, 234, 334 is screwed onto the foot base opening 126, 226, 326, this causes some scratching of the foot base opening 126, 226, 326. The scratching allows a first metal in the tapered bolt 134, 234, 334 to contact a second metal in the foot base opening 126, 226, 326. Where two dissimilar metal contact, one metal will lose electrons (oxidation) and the other will gain electrons (reduction). When this happens the two metals will bond in a redox reaction. Mechanically, this redox reaction creates a water tight seal between the tapered bolt 134, 234, 334 and the foot base opening 126, 226, 326.

Turning to FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, composition base plates 218, 318, 418 are shown. Sheet metal circles are punched at a cylindrical angle. This is for strength and to match different roof heights. A sealing apparatus male part 240, 340, and 440 is on the top face of each base plate. The plate is of a round design with multiple holes 242, 342, and 442 for roof attachment that do not require penetration of wood rafters.

As shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D and 6E the sealing apparatus male part 240 is joined to the composition base plates 218 with a sealing apparatus female part 242 forming the composition base plate central opening 220. As noted above, the seal bolt 234 can be inserted into the composition base plate central opening 220. FIG. 6A shows a female cavity 242 the flashing with opening 218 and a male raised lip 280. FIG. 6B shows the flashing with opening after it is mechanically compressed between the female and male parts creating part 1 of the seal and electrical bonding discussed above. FIGS. 6-7 then illustrate the second part of the seal which is the tapered fastener that plugs the top opening from water. In FIG. 6E, tapered fastener 234 compresses the female part 242 onto the flashing 218 onto the male part 240 sandwiching all parts together for a sealed assembly.

In FIGS. 7A and 7B, a tapered fastener 444 is shown with an outward tapered flange 446. The outward tapered flange 446. compresses the female part 242 onto the flashing 218 onto the male part 240 sandwiching all parts together for a sealed assembly.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show one embodiment of how to make the sealing apparatus. Here, a fastener 544 with an inward angled flange 546 is inserted through the sealing apparatus male part 240 to the composition base plates 218 with a sealing apparatus female part 242 forming the composition base plate central opening 220.

FIGS. 9A and 9B show one embodiment of how to make the sealing apparatus. Here, a fastener 644 with an inward angled flange 646 is inserted through the sealing apparatus male part 240 to the composition base plates 218 with a sealing apparatus female part 242 forming the composition base plate central opening 220.

Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specified function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6. In particular, any use of “step of” in the claims is not intended to invoke the provision of 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments described above. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A flashed mounting system, configured to create a watertight connection with a surface; the flashed mounting system comprising: a flashing with a flashing portion that has a flashing portion opening; a compression block, further comprising a compression block central opening that is linearly aligned with the raised flashing portion opening; a bracket, further comprising a base that has a base opening that is linearly aligned with the raised flashing portion opening and the compression block central opening; a fastener, inserted through the base opening, the flashing portion opening and the compression block central opening into a surface; wherein crushing the compression block male lip against the flashing portion electrically bonds the fastener to the base opening creates a watertight seal between the tapered lag screw and the bracket female cavity
 2. The flashed mounting system of claim 1, wherein the bracket is a foot, the base is a foot base and the base opening is a foot base opening.
 3. The flashed mounting system of claim 1, wherein the bracket is a slider bracket, the base is a slider base and the base opening is a slider base opening.
 4. The flashed mounting system of claim 3, wherein the compression block is a composition base plate that is mechanically coupled to the surface with a plurality of screws.
 5. The flashed mounting system of claim 1, wherein the fastener is an outward angled flange that is inserted through a sealing apparatus male part to the composition base plate with a sealing apparatus female part forming a composition base plate central opening.
 6. The flashed mounting system of claim 1, wherein the fastener is an inward angled flange that is inserted through a sealing apparatus male part to the composition base plate with a sealing apparatus female part forming a composition base plate central opening. 